LeBron James’ last-minute decision to skip the NBA All-Star Game has left one of his former teammates peeved.
Kendrick Perkins, who shared a locker room with James in Cleveland, believes the Lakers star should have forewarned the NBA about his ankle injury so the league could have named a replacement.
“He probably knew he wasn’t going to play when he was selected for the All-Star Game,” Perkins told ESPN’s “Get Up” on Monday. “How about giving people a heads up? [How about] not showing up to the actual All-Star weekend a hour before the game starts? And then all of a sudden, you’re taking away from another guy who should have earned to be in the All-Star Game.”
Perkins added that Clippers guard Norman Powell, averaging a career-high 24.2 points, should have been called up to replace James after being snubbed from the original roster.
“Am I mad about ‘Bron not playing? No, I get it. He’s 40. But I’m mad about how he went about it.”
The former Celtic also ripped James for showing up to the Chase Center in street clothes instead of a Lakers uniform, questioning his professionalism and enthusiasm for the All-Star Game. James sat beside his Shaq’s OGs teammates but did not enter the game.
